Dordogne, France

This area in southwest France has multiple caves with well-preserved Ice Age art, including the famed Lascaux Cave. Two von Petzinger picks are near the village Les Eyzies-de-Tayac: Les Combarelles, with engravings of animals and human figures, and Font-de-Gaume cave, with colorful rock paintings. Don’t miss Rouffignac Cave’s drawings of mammoths.

Cantabria, Spain

El Castillo Cave holds some of the oldest cave art in Europe, including dozens of red handprints that date back more than 30,000 years, some made by Ice Age women and children. Pro tip: The cave can be slick; wear shoes with good traction. Afterward visit two notable Cantabrian museums that illuminate cave art: Altamira Museum and the Museum of Prehistory and Archaeology.

Côa Valley, Portugal

East of the city of Porto, this river valley is one of the best places in Europe for open-air Paleolithic rock art. Book a guided tour in a 4x4 to explore a plateau little changed since the Ice Age. View engraved images on hundreds of rock faces. “It’s like visiting Jurassic Park,” von Petzinger says. Also a must: the Côa Museum, which traces the valley’s history.

Ice Age Cave Art: Unlocking the Mysteries Behind These MarkingsWhat do these mysterious cave markings mean? Genevieve Von Petzinger takes the stage to talk about her passion for exploration and her quest to uncover the hidden meaning behind these geometric signs.